Stock Market Scams Surge: Greed Leads to Crores Lost by Investors

• Stock market scams are on the rise, with fraudsters using WhatsApp, Telegram, fake apps, and cloned websites to deceive investors.
• Victims are lured with promises of high returns, guaranteed IPO allotments, and investment advisory services outside regulated financial systems.
• Recent high-profile cases include V.V. Lakshminarayana's wife losing Rs. 2.58 crore and director Teja's son Amitav Teja losing Rs. 72 lakh.
• Scammers build trust with small investments and fake profits, then push for larger sums, making withdrawals impossible and charging fees.
• The ease of digital payments, increased retail participation, low awareness, and desire for quick high returns contribute to the scam's prevalence.

Why It Matters: Beware of stock market scams; only invest through SEBI-registered brokers and report fraud immediately.